Line spreader and guide.



No. 700,795. Patented May 27, m2. T. N. MATHIAS.

LINE SPREADER AND GUIDE,

(Application flied Sept. 26, 1901) w m m 9/ 4 ,9 .7 o 7 1 J n p m a 5 JUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE N. MATHIAS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO HIM- SELF,LOUIS G. ADAMS AND SAMUEL J. HALL, OF WATERLOO, IOWA, AND DAVID G.WEBSTER, OF OAPRON, ILLINOIS, A OOPARTNERSHIP.

LINE SPREADER AND GUIDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,795, dated May 27,1902. Application filed September 25, 1901. Serial No. 76.502. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern: pivot in a direction to bring the studstoward Be it known that I, THEODORE N. MATHIAS, each other. The studsloosely fit in the openresiding at Milwaukee, in the county of Miling 9,so that the roller may freely revolve. waukee and State of Wisconsin,have invent- Any desirable means may be employed for ed a new and usefulImprovement in Line releasablyholdingtheextensions'together; 55

Spreaders and Guides, of which the following but I prefer to provideeach of said extenis a description, reference being had to the sionswith a slot 10. These slots when the accompanying drawings, which are apart of members are turned to the position shown in this specification.Figs. 1 and 2 are adapted to register with [0 My invention has relationto improvements each other, and thereby provide a passage in linespreaders and guides adapted to be for astrap of the harnesssuch, forinstance, employed in various situations upon harness, as thespread-strap, (indicated in the drawbut more especially adapted for usein conings by the numeral 11. The space formed nection with the line orthe inside check on between the roller and the extensions 5 5 re- I 5the line. ceives therein the strap of the harness, pref- The object ofthe invention is to provide a erably the line or the inside check on thesimple and cheap form of construction capaline, (indicated in thedrawings by the nuble of acting as an effective guide and as a meral12.) The width of the space referred means for preventing the line orstrap from to is designed to be such that the strap almost 20 twisting,and, furthermore, of such construefills up the same, so that said strapwill at all tion as to provide for the ready removal or times beheldfiat on the roller and be there insertion of the line or strap and atthesame by prevented from twisting. The pull on the time providing againstexcessive friction on line 12 is of course in a direction to bring saidline or strap when properly adjusted to said line into bearing contactwith the roller 25 the device. 8, and hence friction is thereby reducedto Having the above and other incidental obthe minimum. jects in view,the invention consists of the It is obvious that the device may bereaddevices and parts or their equivalents, as ily removed from theharness when desired hereinafter more fully set forth. merely by pullingout the spread-strap 11 and 30 In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 isturning the device to the position shown in a plan view of my improveddevice, showing Fig. 3. It is equally obvious when the de the roller andthe strap in section. Fig. 2 is vice is in the position shown in Figs. 1and 2, an edge view of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a plan with thespread-strap passed through the regview with the strap removed and thememistering slots 10, said strap forms an effect- 35 bers turned ontheir pivot in a direction to ive lock against the members beingseparated withdraw the axial studs from the roller. or turned on theirpivot.

Referring to the drawings,the numerals 4 4c \Vhat I claim as myinvention is indicate two side bars or members. The side 1. A spreaderor guide for a line or strap, bar 4 is provided with an extension 5,proconsisting of side bars or members, each pro- 40 jecting at an angletherefrom, and the bar 4 vided at. a corresponding end with an extenwith a similar extensiono', also projecting at sion projecting inwardlyat an angle therean angle therefrom. These extensions are from, the saidextensions being pivoted topivoted together, preferably at a medialpoint gether, and each extension being prolonged and at their outeredges, by a pivot-pin 6. inwardly beyond the-pivotal point, said pro- 5The inner end of each side bar or member is longations adapted toregister and overlap provided with an inwardly-extending stud 7. eachother, when the side bars or members These studs form the axisfor aroller 8, said are made to approach each other, a roller 10- rollerprovided with acentral opening 9, in cated at the opposite ends of theside bars or which the studs are adapted to pass when the members, saidroller being rotatably engaged 50 two members of the device are turnedon their with the side bars or members;wl1en said side Ieo vided at acorresponding end with a slotted extension projecting inwardly at anangle therefrom, the said extensions being pivoted together, and theopposite endof each side bar or member provided with aninwardlyextending stud a roller provided with an axial opening which thestuds are adapted to engage, when the side bars or members are turned ina direction to bring the studs toward each other, and a strap, or othersecuring means, adapted to be passed through the slots of the extensionswhen the side bars or' members are turned in a direction to causetheextensions to approach each other and the respective slots toregister.

- 3. A spreader or guide for a line or strap, consisting of side bars ormembers each provided at a corresponding end with a slotted extensionprojecting inwardly at an angle therefrom, the said extensions beingpivoted together, a roller located at the opposite ends of the side barsor members, said roller being rotatably engaged with the side bars ormembers, when said side bars or members are made to approach each other,and said roller being disengaged from the side bars or members when thelatter are turned on their pivot away from each other, and a strap, orother securing means, adapted to be passed through the slots of theextensions when the side bars or members are turned in a direction tocause the extensions to approach each other and the respective slots toregister.

4. A spreader or guide for a line or strap, consisting of side bars ormembers each provided at a corresponding end with an extensionprojecting inwardly at an angle therefrom, the said extensions beingpivoted together, and each extension being prolonged inwardly beyond thepivotal point, said prolongations adapted to register and overlap eachother when the side bars or members are made to approach each other, andthe opposite end of each side bar or member provided with aninwardly-extending stud, a roller provided with an axial opening whichthe studs are adapted to engage when the side bars or members are turnedin a direction to bring the studs toward each other, and meansconstructed to releasably engage the extensions, when the side bars ormembers are turned in a direction to cause the extensions to approacheach other and the prolongations thereof to overlap.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE N. MATHIAS.

Witnesses:

'A. L. MoRsELL,

ANNA V. FAUST.

